By Franklin Adole
The war of words between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated on Monday, with APC spokesman Felix Morka and PDP chieftain Ini Ememobong trading sharp words over the state of the opposition party and ongoing defections.
Speaking during a television interview in Abuja, Morka described the PDP as “utterly dysfunctional,” insisting it no longer qualifies as a viable political party due to its deep internal crisis.
He argued that the wave of defections into the APC, including governors and key political actors, was a direct consequence of the PDP’s collapse rather than any form of coercion by the ruling party or President Bola Tinubu.
According to him, Nigeria’s constitutional democracy guarantees freedom of association, and those joining the APC were doing so voluntarily, dismissing claims that the country was drifting towards a one-party state.
Morka maintained that similar political dominance had occurred in the past, recalling that between 1999 and 2007, the PDP controlled the majority of states without raising concerns about democratic imbalance.
He further contended that the defectors were simply gravitating towards a party that offers a more credible political platform, describing their movement as an endorsement of the APC’s leadership and policies.
The APC spokesman also rejected allegations of inducement, questioning how financially powerful governors could be pressured to defect, and credited President Tinubu’s inclusive style of governance for attracting opposition figures.
He added that the president has maintained a non-partisan approach in dealing with governors across party lines, fostering cooperation that has encouraged political realignments.
Morka also took a swipe at the African Democratic Congress (ADC), accusing it of lacking clear policy alternatives and focusing solely on attacking the APC without offering viable solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.
But in a swift rebuttal, Ememobong dismissed Morka’s claims as “delusional propaganda,” accusing the APC of attempting to mask the realities of public discontent and economic hardship.
In a statement, he insisted that defections into the APC were being driven by “force and inducement,” arguing that Nigerians have continued to reject the ruling party despite its aggressive expansion strategy.
Ememobong cited alleged irregularities in APC membership registration exercises and pointed to growing dissatisfaction among citizens as evidence that the ruling party’s popularity was overstated.
He warned that the APC’s narrative of dominance would ultimately be tested across the country, referencing recent disruptions at political events as signs of underlying resistance.
Taking a more combative tone, the PDP spokesman likened Morka’s communication style to propaganda, cautioning that such tactics could damage democratic values and backfire on their proponents.
He further accused the APC of presiding over worsening national conditions, insisting that no amount of political messaging could obscure what he described as the “lived realities” of Nigerians under the current administration.